Bangerwatch: Fiat Uno Turbo i.e

In the market for an ’80s hot hatch, but would prefer something different to the ubiquitous Golf GTi or 205 GTi? Well, if you’re feeling brave, you might be tempted by this little Italian rocket found in the classifieds. Signore e signori, I give you the Fiat Uno Turbo i.e. Admit it, you weren’t expecting one of these to be for sale today, were you?

Launched in 1985, the Fiat Uno Turbo was once a common site on Britain’s roads. By offering a top speed of 130mph and 105bhp from its 1.4 litre engine, the Uno was a credible alternative to the 205 GTi. It may have lacked the 205’s overall qualities, helping to explain why the 205 GTi is still a common sight, whereas the Uno Turbo shall we say, isn’t. But it was turbocharged and in the 1980s, that meant a lot. If you wore red braces, had a Sade album on your Sony Walkman, your mobile phone was the size of your house and your car was turbocharged, you were a man on the up. As Gordon Gekko probably said, “Turbo is good; Turbo is very good”.

This particular example needs a little work. Okay, it probably needs a lot of work. But, according to How Many Left?, there are less than 50 of these turbocharged terriers on the road, so this is something of a rarity.

For me, it belongs in the same stable as the Citroën AX GT. A car that has largely been forgotten, but needs supporting before they all disappear off the face of the earth. So, who’s feeling brave?

Perhaps this picture will work as some kind of carrot if my sticks aren’t working? Fine, so it’s the later MK2 Uno, but I happen to think it looks wonderful. Lovely, isn’t it?

You can view the ad here. Go on, put a cheeky £250 offer in. There’s a packet of Hobnobs in it for whoever takes the plunge.

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The chief waffler and founder of PetrolBlog in 2010. Has a rather unhealthy obsession with cars from the 80s and 90s, and is on a one-man mission to collect the cars nobody else wants. Also likes tea and Hobnobs.

Eric Stratten

MajorGav

Joseph

The Fiat Uno is in general a very interesting car, the Uno Turbo more so. Here is some information for those who may, like me, be interested to find out more on these little cars.

Firstly, the first generation Uno Turbo was available with the option of a digital instrument display, with a large digital speedometer and vertical strips which turned red when high revs were reached. The Uno was also available with a ruidimentary form of trip computer, known as ‘Trip Master’ in place of the digital dash. Furthermore, all early Uno Mk1s did not have, as on most cars, a stalk to the right of the steering wheel to control the wipers and lights: instead the car had two control panels, one each side of the steering wheel – look ‘Fiat Uno dashboard’ up on Google Images to see what I mean. Also, the Fiat Uno Turbo’s 1.4 litre turbocharged engine was later fitted to the Uno’s replacement – the Punto GT as well.